Juz 22

Al-Aḥzāb 33:35 to Yā-Sīn 36:29 · 28 passages, 4 with an occasion of revelation

33. Al-Aḥzāb

The Confederates

Equal Reward for Men and Women

A comprehensive list of virtues is given for believing men and women alike, promising forgiveness and a great reward.

Context · al-Wahidi

Al-Wahidi gives two reports. Muqatil ibn Hayyan says he heard that Asma bint Umays came back from Abyssinia with her husband Jafar ibn Abi Talib. She asked the Prophet's wives whether any Quran had come down about them, and they said no. She then told the Prophet that women were losing out, because they were not mentioned for good the way men were, and Allah revealed this verse. Al-Fahl found no chain for this report. Qatada says that when Allah mentioned the Prophet's wives, other Muslim women complained to them that they had been left out, and the verse came down.

Source text (1 entry)

The words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, the Muslim men and the Muslim women ..." [to the end of the verse] [33:35].[Muqatil ibn Hayyan said: It has reached me that when Asma bint Umays(1) returned from Abyssinia with her husband Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, she went in to the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Has anything of the Quran been revealed about us? They said: No. So she came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, the women are surely in disappointment and loss. He said: "And why(2) is that?" She said: Because they are not mentioned for good as the men are mentioned. So Allah, Exalted is He, sent down: "Indeed, the Muslim men and the Muslim women ..." [33:35] to its end.](3) Qatadah(4) said: When Allah, Exalted is He, mentioned the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), some women from among the Muslim women went in to them and said: You have been mentioned and we have not been mentioned. If there were any good in us we would have been mentioned. So Allah, Exalted is He, sent down: "Indeed, the Muslim men and the Muslim women"(5) [33:35].

(1) The author cites it in al-Wasit 3/471, al-Baghawi in his Tafsir (1710), and al-Khazin in his Tafsir 5/260 without a chain, and we have not found it with a chain.

(4) Recorded by al-Tabari in his Tafsir 22/10; see al-Durr al-Manthur 6/608.

(5) This occasion is reported through other routes; see Tafsir Ibn Kathir 3/647-648 and al-Durr al-Manthur 6/607-608.

33:36-44

Submitting to Allah’s Decree

Believers must accept Allah’s and His Messenger’s decisions; the Zayd incident is referenced to end adoption norms, and Allah’s blessings and mercy upon believers are affirmed.

33:45-48

The Prophet’s Mission

Muhammad is described as witness, bringer of good news, warner, and guiding lamp, told to trust Allah and not yield to disbelievers and hypocrites.

33:49-52

Marriage and Household Regulations

Rules are given for divorce before consummation, providing for women, and clarifying the Prophet’s permitted marriages and limits thereafter.

Context · al-Wahidi

Verse 33:51 is the only verse in this passage with an entry. The exegetes say some of the Prophet's wives grew jealous and asked for more support, so he stayed away from them for a month. Then the verse giving them a choice came, and those who stayed agreed he could set aside or receive whom he wished, though he still divided his time equally among them. Others say the wives feared divorce and asked him to keep them on any terms, and this verse came. Al-Wahidi also reports from Aishah, in narrations recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim, that it came after she criticised women who offered themselves to the Prophet. She then said, 'I see your Lord hastens to fulfil your wish.'

Source text (1 entry)

The words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: "You may defer whom you wish of them ... [to the end of the verse]" [33:51].The commentators said (1): When some of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) grew jealous, troubled him with their jealousy and asked for more maintenance, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kept away from them for a month, until the verse of the choice came down. Allah Most High commanded him to let them choose between this world and the Hereafter, to release whoever chose this world, and to keep (2) whoever of them chose Allah, glory be to Him, and His Messenger, on the terms that they would be the Mothers of the Believers and would never marry again, and that he could take to himself whichever of them he wished and defer whichever of them he wished, and they would accept that from him, whether he allotted them their turns or not, or preferred some of them over others in maintenance, in the allotment of turns and in companionship; the matter in that would be his, to do as he wished. They accepted all of that. Yet the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), despite the latitude Allah Most High had given him, treated them equally in the allotment of turns. (354) Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Muzakki informed us, saying: Abd al-Malik ibn al-Hasan ibn Yusuf al-Saqati informed us, saying: Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Hulwani related to us, saying: Yahya ibn Ma'in related to us, saying: Abbad ibn Abbad related to us, from Asim al-Ahwal, from Mu'adhah, from Aishah, who said: After "You may defer whom you wish of them and take to yourself whom you wish" [33:51] came down, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to ask our permission when it was the day of one of us. Mu'adhah said: I said: What did you use to say? She said: I used to say: If that is up to me (3), I will not prefer anyone over myself. Al-Bukhari recorded it (4) from Hayyan ibn Musa, from Ibn al-Mubarak, and Muslim recorded it (5) from Shurayh ibn (1) Yunus, from Abbad; both from Asim. Others said: When the verse of the choice came down, they feared that he would divorce them (2), so they said: O Prophet of Allah, give us of your wealth and yourself whatever you wish, and leave us as we are. So this verse came down (3). (355) Abd al-Rahman ibn Abdan informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad (4) ibn Nu'aym informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Akhram related to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab related to us, saying: Muhadir ibn al-Muwarri' (5) related to us, from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, from Aishah: that she used to say to the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Is a woman not ashamed to offer herself? Then Allah, Mighty and Majestic, sent down: "You may defer whom you wish of them and take to yourself whom you wish" [33:51]. Aishah said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): I see that your Lord hastens to your desire. Al-Bukhari recorded it (6) from Zakariyya ibn Yahya, and Muslim recorded it (7) , from Abu Kurayb; both from Abu Usamah, from Hisham.

(1) Al-Baghawi transmitted it in his Tafsir (1728) from Abu Razin and Ibn Zayd. See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir 4/24-26, and al-Durr al-Manthur 6/633-635.

(4) Sahih al-Bukhari 6/147 (4789).

(5) Sahih Muslim 4/186 (1476) (23). Also recorded by Ahmad 6/76, Muslim 4/186 (1476) after (23) without a number, Abu Dawud (2136), al-Nasa'i in al-Kubra (8936), Abu Awanah 3/134, Ibn Hibban (4206), al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (6304), al-Hakim 2/187, Abu Nu'aym in al-Mustakhraj (3480), al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra 7/74, al-Khatib in Tarikh Baghdad 4/286, and Ibn Hajar in Taghliq al-Ta'liq 4/286, through various routes from Asim al-Ahwal, with this chain.

(1) In Sahih Muslim: "Surayj ibn Yunus".

(3) This comes through the route of Abu Razin; recorded by al-Tabari in his Tafsir 22/25, and cited by al-Baghawi in his Tafsir (1729), who added: "Those of them he deferred were Sawdah bint Zam'ah, Juwayriyah, Safiyyah, Umm Habibah and Maymunah; those he took to himself were Aishah, Umm Salamah, Hafsah and Zaynab." See: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (16471). It also comes through the route of Mujahid, with the same. Recorded by Ibn Mardawayh, as in al-Durr al-Manthur 6/633, who also added: "He said: Those taken to himself were five: Aishah, Hafsah, Umm Salamah, Zaynab and Umm Habibah; those deferred were four: Juwayriyah, Maymunah, Sawdah and Safiyyah."

(6) Sahih al-Bukhari 6/174 (4788).

(7) Sahih Muslim 4/174 (1464) (49). Also recorded by Ahmad 6/134, 158 and 261, al-Bukhari 7/15 (5113), Muslim 4/174 (1464) (50), Ibn Majah (2000), al-Nasa'i in al-Kubra (5306), (8927) and (11414) and in his separate Tafsir (434), Abu Awanah 3/137-138, al-Tabari in his Tafsir 22/26, Ibn Hibban (6367), al-Hakim 2/436, al-Bayhaqi 7/55, al-Baghawi in his Tafsir (1731), and Ibn Hajar in Taghliq al-Ta'liq 4/411, through the route of Hisham ibn Urwah, with this chain.

33:53-58

Etiquette and Protecting Honor

Believers are taught manners in the Prophet’s home, including speaking to his wives from behind a screen; harming the Prophet or slandering chaste believers is condemned.

Context · al-Wahidi

Verse 33:53 came down, Anas reports, after the Prophet's wedding feast for Zaynab bint Jahsh, when three guests lingered talking in his house; a curtain was then drawn. Umar also said he had asked the Prophet to screen his wives. Mujahid says a man's hand touched Aishah's at a meal; al-Fahl grades this weak. Ibn Abbas says the ban on marrying the wives followed a Quraysh leader saying he would marry Aishah. Verse 33:56 came when people asked how to invoke blessings on the Prophet, per Ka'b ibn Ujrah; al-Fahl grades it sound. For 33:58, Ibn Abbas says people harmed Umar after he struck an adorned girl; Muqatil says hypocrites abused Ali; others say men harassed women going out at night.

Source text (5 entries)

The words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: "O you who believe, do not enter the houses of the Prophet..." [to the end of the verse] [33:53].Most of the commentators said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) consummated his marriage(1) with Zaynab bint Jahsh, he gave a wedding feast for her with dates and sawiq, and he slaughtered a sheep. Anas said: My mother Umm Sulaym sent him hays in a stone vessel(2). The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered me to invite his Companions to the food, so I invited them. People began to come, eat and leave; then others would come, eat and leave.(3) I said: O Prophet of Allah, I have invited until I can find no one left to invite. He said: Take up your food. So they took it up, and the people left, but three men remained in the house talking. They stayed a long time, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was troubled by them, for he was very shy. Then this verse was revealed, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) drew a curtain between me and him. (356) Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Faqih informed us, saying: Abu Amr(1) Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Hiri informed us, saying: Imran ibn Musa ibn Mujashi informed us, saying: Abd al-A'la ibn Hammad al-Narsi told us, saying: al-Mu'tamir ibn Sulayman told us, from his father, from Abu Mijlaz, from Anas ibn Malik, who said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married Zaynab bint Jahsh, he invited the people. They ate, then sat talking. He said: He acted as if he were about to rise, but they did not rise. When he saw that, he stood up, and those of the people who rose, rose,(2) but three men remained seated.(3) The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to enter, but found the people sitting, so he went back.(4) Then they rose and left. I came and told the Prophet (peace be upon him) that they had left. He said:(5) So he came and entered. He said: I went to enter, but he let down the curtain between me and him. Then Allah Most High revealed: "O you who believe, do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless you are given permission for a meal..." [33:53] [to the end of the verse], up to His words: "Indeed that is, with Allah, a grave matter" [33:53]. Al-Bukhari recorded it(6) from Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Raqashi, and Muslim recorded it(7) from Yahya ibn Habib al-Harithi, both from al-Mu'tamir. (357) Isma'il ibn Ibrahim al-Wa'iz informed us, saying: Abu Amr ibn Nujayd informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Khalil informed us, saying: Hisham ibn Ammar told us, saying: al-Khalil ibn Musa told us, saying: Abdullah ibn Awn(1) told us, from Amr ibn Sa'id(2), from Anas ibn Malik, who said: I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when he passed by one of his apartments and saw in it some people sitting and talking. Then he went back, entered the apartment, and let down the curtain before me. I went to Abu Talhah and told him all of that.(3) He said: If what you say is true, Allah Most High will surely send down Qur'an about it. Then Allah Most High revealed: "O you who believe, do not enter the houses of the Prophet..." [to the end of the verse](4) [33:53]. (358) Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Hiri informed us, saying: Hajib ibn Ahmad told us, saying: Abd al-Rahim ibn Munib told us, saying: Yazid ibn Harun told us, saying: Humayd told us, from Anas, who said: Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, the righteous and the wicked enter upon you; if only you would order the Mothers of the Believers to veil themselves. Then Allah Most High revealed the verse of the veil. Al-Bukhari recorded it(5) from Musaddad, from Yahya [ibn Abi Za'idah](1), from Humayd. (359) Abu Hakim(2) al-Jurjani informed me, by what he granted me by license verbally, saying: Abu al-Faraj al-Qadi informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Jarir(3) told us, saying: Ya'qub ibn Ibrahim told us, saying: Hushaym told us, from Layth, from Mujahid: that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to eat with some of his Companions, and the hand of one of the men touched the hand of Aishah, who was with them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) disliked that, and the verse of the veil was revealed.(4))

(1) See: Tafsir Abd al-Razzaq 3/49, Tafsir al-Tabari 22/37, and Tafsir al-Baghawi 3/656-657.

(6) Sahih al-Bukhari 6/148 (4791).

(7) Sahih Muslim 4/149 (1428) (92). It was also recorded by: al-Bukhari 8/66 (6239) and 8/75 (6271), Muslim 4/149 (1428) (92), al-Nasa'i in al-Kubra (11420) and in his separate Tafsir (440), al-Tahawi in Sharh al-Ma'ani 4/334, al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat (8523), Abu Nu'aym in al-Mustakhraj (3334), and al-Bayhaqi 7/87, also by way of Abu Mijlaz. Note: in the printed edition of Sharh al-Ma'ani it appears as "from Abu Mujalid, from Anas", which is an ugly corruption. = = It was also recorded by: Ibn Sa'd in al-Tabaqat 2/109 and 8/105, Ahmad 3/195 and 246, Abd ibn Humayd (1206), Muslim 4/148 (1428) (89) and 4/149 (1428) (90), al-Firyabi in Dala'il al-Nubuwwah (9), al-Nasa'i in al-Mujtaba 6/79 and in al-Kubra (5399) and (11410) and in his Tafsir (430), Abu Ya'la (3332), (3349) and (3464), Abu Awanah 3/57, Ibn Hibban (7212), and al-Marwazi [...]

(4) Hasan, as al-Tirmidhi said. Al-Khalil ibn Musa is weak but may be used for corroboration, and he was followed by Ashhal ibn Hatim in al-Tirmidhi, who is likewise. It was recorded by: al-Tirmidhi (3217), and al-Tabari in his Tafsir 22/38.

(5) Sahih al-Bukhari 6/24 (4483). It was also recorded by: Ahmad 1/23, 24 and 36, and al-Bukhari 1/111

(3) He is Imam al-Tabari, and the hadith is in his Tafsir 22/39.

(4) Its chain is weak, because of the weakness of Layth, who is Ibn Abi Sulaym, and because it is mursal. This story has come connected from the hadith of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), in which the man whose hand touched the hand of Aishah was Umar ibn al-Khattab. (Al-Suyuti mentioned it and said: "Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Abi Hatim, al-Tabarani, and Ibn Mardawayh recorded it with a sound chain from Aishah." See: al-Durr al-Manthur 6/640-641. And see: Tafsir Ibn Kathir 3/671.

weak chain

His words (Mighty and Majestic is He): "Nor that you should ever marry his wives after him..." [to the end of the verse] [33:53].Ibn Abbas said, in the report of Ata: (5) A man from among the chiefs of Quraysh said: "If the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were to die, I would marry Aishah." So Allah, Exalted is He, sent down what He sent down.

(5) Recorded by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra 7/69 by way of Mihran ibn Abi Umar, from Sufyan al-Thawri, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas, with it. Al-Bayhaqi said: "Sulayman said: No one related it from Sufyan except Mihran." This Mihran is "Mihran ibn Abi Umar al-Razi al-Attar. Ibn Ma'in said: I wrote from him; he was a Muslim shaykh, but he had much confusion in the hadith of Sufyan." See Mizan al-I'tidal 4/196 (8828). Al-Suyuti mentioned the hadith in al-Durr al-Manthur 6/643 and attributed it to Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Mardawayh.

His words, Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet..." [to the end of the verse] [33:56].(360) Abu Sa'id informed us, from Ibn (1) Amr (2) al-Naysaburi, who said: al-Hasan ibn Ahmad (3) al-Makhladi (4) informed us, saying: al-Mu'ammal ibn al-Hasan (5) ibn Isa informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Yahya related to us, saying: Abu Hudhayfah related to us, saying: Sufyan related to us, from al-Zubayr ibn Adi, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, from Ka'b ibn Ujrah, who said: It was said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): We know how to send greetings of peace upon you, but how are we to send blessings upon you? So Allah sent down: "Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with greetings of peace." (6) [33:56]. (361) Abd al-Rahman ibn Hamdan al-Adl informed us, saying: Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Isa al-Washsha informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Suli related to us, saying: al-Riyashi related to us, from al-Asma'i, who said: I heard al-Mahdi say on the pulpit of Basra: Allah has commanded you with a command in which He began with Himself and followed with His angels, for He said: "Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with greetings of peace." [33:56]. He singled him (peace be upon him) out for it from among all (1) the messengers, and He set you apart for it from among all creation (2). So meet the favour of Allah with gratitude (3). (362) I heard the master (4) Abu Uthman al-Wa'iz (5) say (6): I heard the Imam Sahl ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman say: This honour with which Allah, Exalted is He, honoured His Prophet (peace be upon him) by His words: "Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet" [33:56] is greater and more complete than the honouring of Adam by the command to the angels to prostrate to him. For it is not possible that Allah be together with the angels in that honour, whereas Allah, Exalted is He, has told of Himself sending blessings upon the Prophet, and then of the angels sending blessings upon him (7). So an honour that comes from Him is greater than an honour that belongs to the angels alone, where it is not possible that Allah be with them in it. This which Sahl said is drawn from the words of al-Mahdi. Perhaps he saw it and considered it, took it from him and explained it, and set it against the honouring of Adam, so that it was greater and more complete than it. (363) There is mentioned in the Sahih what Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Farisi informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Amrawayh informed us, saying: Ibrahim ibn Sufyan related to us, saying: Muslim (1) related to us, saying: Qutaybah and Ali ibn Hujr related to us, both saying: Isma'il ibn Ja'far related to us, from al-Ala, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever sends blessings upon me once (2), Allah sends blessings upon him ten times." (3)

(6) Its chain is sound. Recorded by al-Shafi'i.

(3) The author took it from Kitab al-Awraq fi Akhbar Al al-Abbas wa-Ash'arihim. See: Kitab Asbab al-Nuzul li-l-Wahidi, Dirasah wa-Tahlil, master's thesis, 152, and al-Wasit 3/481.

(1) Sahih Muslim 2/17 (408) (70).

(3) Sound. Recorded by Ahmad 2/262, 372, 375 and 385, al-Darimi (2775), al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (645), Abu Dawud (1530), al-Tirmidhi (485), al-Nasa'i 3/50 and in al-Kubra (1128), Abu Ya'la (6495), Ibn Hibban (906), and al-Baghawi (684).

sound chain

The words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: "He it is who sends blessings upon you, and His angels..."Mujahid said: When the verse "Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet... [to the end of the verse]" [33:56] was revealed, Abu Bakr said: Allah, Exalted is He, has never given you any good without making us share in it. So there was revealed: "He it is who sends blessings upon you, and His angels... [to the end of the verse]" (4) [33:43].

(4) Recorded by Abd ibn Humayd and Ibn al-Mundhir, as in al-Durr al-Manthur 6/622. Al-Baghawi mentions it in his Tafsir (1725) from Anas ibn Malik without a chain.

His words (Mighty and Majestic is He): "And those who harm believing men and believing women for something they did not earn... [to the end of the verse]" [33:58].Ata said, from Ibn Abbas: Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a slave girl of the Ansar displaying her adornment, so he struck her, disliking what he saw of her finery. She went to her people complaining of Umar. They went out to him and abused him, and Allah Most High sent down this verse (5). Muqatil said: It was sent down about Ali ibn Abi Talib. Some of the hypocrites used to harm him and say hurtful things within his hearing (1). Al-Dahhak, al-Suddi and al-Kalbi said (2): It was sent down about fornicators who used to walk the roads of Madinah following the women when they went out at night to relieve themselves. They would see a woman, draw near her and wink at her. If she kept silent they followed her, and if she rebuked them they left her alone. They sought only slave women, but in those days a free woman could not be told apart from a slave woman, for they all went out in a shift and a head covering. The women complained of this to their husbands, who mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and Allah Most High sent down this verse. The proof that this is correct is His words (Mighty and Majestic is He): "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments over themselves... [to the end of the verse]" [33:59]. (364) Said ibn Muhammad al-Mu'adhdhin informed us, saying: Abu Ali al-Faqih informed us, saying: Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Junayd informed us, saying: Ziyad ibn Ayyub related to us, saying: Hushaym related to us, from Husayn, from Abu Malik, who said (3): The believing women used to go out at night to relieve themselves, and the hypocrites would accost them and harm them. So this verse was sent down. Al-Suddi said (1): The houses of Madinah were cramped, and when night fell the women would go out to relieve themselves (2). Some of the wicked men of Madinah would go out, and when they saw a woman wearing a veil they said, "This is a free woman," and left her alone; and when they saw a woman without a veil they said, "This is a slave woman," and they would solicit her (3). So Allah Most High sent down this verse. Surah Ya Sin

(5) Al-Qurtubi mentioned it in his Tafsir 6/5322 without a chain, and we have not found it with a chain.

(1) Al-Baghawi mentioned it in his Tafsir 3/664, al-Qurtubi in his Tafsir 6/5322, and al-Khazin 5/276, without a chain, and we have not found it with a chain.

(2) Al-Baghawi mentioned it in his Tafsir (1754), from al-Dahhak and al-Kalbi, without a chain.

(3) Recorded by Ibn Sad in al-Tabaqat al-Kubra 8/176. Al-Suyuti in al-Durr al-Manthur 6/659 also attributed it to Said ibn Mansur, Abd ibn Humayd, Ibn al-Mundhir and Ibn Abi Hatim. In al-Tabaqat and al-Durr: "The wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to..."

(1) Al-Suyuti mentioned it in al-Durr al-Manthur 6/661 and attributed it to Ibn Abi Hatim.

33:59-68

Modesty and the End of Hypocrisy

Believing women are told to draw their outer garments to avoid harm; hypocrites and rumor-spreaders are warned, and believers are urged to speak rightly and obey Allah and His Messenger.

33:69-73

Trust, Responsibility, and Consequences

Believers are told not to harm the Prophet like those who harmed Moses; the “trust” is described, and outcomes are stated: punishment for hypocrites and idolaters, and forgiveness for believing men and women.

34. Sabaʾ

Sheba

34:1-5

Praise to the All-Knowing Lord

Allah is praised as owner of all in the heavens and earth, fully aware of what enters and exits. The disbelievers deny the Hour, but it will come; believers are rewarded while those who oppose the revelations face severe punishment.

34:6-9

The Qur’an as Guidance and a Warning

Those granted knowledge recognize the revelation as truth guiding to the Mighty, Praiseworthy. Mockers doubt resurrection, yet signs in creation surround them, showing Allah’s power to punish or bring the Hour.

34:10-14

David and Solomon: Gratitude and Divine Gifts

Allah honored David with praise from the mountains and birds and softened iron for him, commanding gratitude. Solomon was granted control of the wind and jinn who built for him; his death, unnoticed by the jinn until later, exposed their lack of knowledge of the unseen.

34:15-21

Sheba’s Blessing and Collapse

The people of Sheba lived amid abundant gardens and were urged to be grateful, but they turned away. A devastating flood destroyed their prosperity, and their scattered fate became a lesson; Satan’s assumption proved true for most, while true believers remained steadfast.

34:22-30

False Gods and the Coming Judgment

All supposed partners besides Allah possess no power or share in His dominion, nor can they intercede without His permission. People are deceived by denial, yet the Prophet is sent as a universal warner; despite demands to hasten the Hour, each has an appointed time.

34:31-39

Mutual Blame on the Day of Reckoning

Disbelievers reject the Qur’an and prior revelation, but on the Day of Judgment they will argue—followers blaming leaders and leaders denying responsibility. Allah exposes their excuses, reminds that wealth and children do not bring nearness, and promises that provision and recompense are in His control.

34:40-45

Angels Disown Those Who Worshiped Them

Allah will question the angels, who will declare they were not to be worshiped and that many people actually followed devils. Each soul will face what it earned; the Qur’an is dismissed as fabrication, yet earlier nations similarly denied and were destroyed despite having less.

34:46-50

A Call to Reflect on the Messenger

People are urged to think sincerely: the Prophet is not possessed but a clear warner before a severe punishment. He seeks no reward, only conveys; truth comes from Allah, and if he errs it is on himself, while guidance is by revelation.

34:51-54

Panic at the End and No Escape

When the promised reality arrives, the disbelievers will be seized in terror with no means of flight. Their late claim of belief will not be accepted, for they denied before; a barrier will separate them from what they desire, as happened to earlier peoples lost in doubt.

35. Fāṭir

Originator

35:1-3

Praise and God’s Unmatched Favor

Allah is praised as Creator and disposer of mercy; none can withhold or grant except Him, so people are reminded of His blessings.

35:4-8

Comfort to the Messenger and a Warning

The Prophet is consoled by past denials; Satan’s deception is exposed, and the end of those whose evil seems fair to them is contrasted with true guidance.

35:9-11

Signs of Resurrection and Human Origin

Reviving dead land by winds and rain is a sign of the Resurrection; human creation and lifespan are by Allah’s decree and recorded.

35:12-14

Two Seas and the Helplessness of False Gods

Fresh and salty seas differ yet provide benefits; those invoked besides Allah cannot respond, and on Judgment Day they will disown such worship.

35:15-26

Human Need and the Mission of Warners

People are needy while Allah is self-sufficient; His power to replace creation is affirmed, and the Prophet is sent as a warner like earlier messengers whom many denied.

35:27-30

Diverse Creation and True Reverence

Varied colors in fruits, mountains, and people point to Allah’s artistry; those who truly fear Allah recite His Book, pray, and give, seeking lasting profit.

35:31-37

The Inherited Book and Final Reward

The Quran confirms previous revelation; believers differ in deeds but are admitted to everlasting gardens, while disbelievers face continual regret and punishment.

35:38-40

Allah’s Full Knowledge and the Futility of Partners

Allah knows the unseen and what is in hearts; supposed partners create nothing and have no authority, and promises about their “help” are illusions.

35:41-45

Cosmic Order, Forbearance, and the Final Reckoning

Allah holds the heavens and earth from collapse; people swear they would follow guidance yet turn away, and though Allah delays punishment, all will be repaid for what they earned.

36. Yā-Sīn

Ya Sin

36:1-12

The Quran and the Warned People

The Quran affirms the Prophet’s mission; many remain heedless, yet all deeds are recorded and resurrection is certain.

Context · al-Wahidi

Verse 36:12 came down about the clan of Banu Salamah. Al-Wahidi reports from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that they lived on the edge of Medina and wanted to move closer to the mosque. In a second version, also from Abu Sa'id, they complained to the Prophet that their homes were far from the mosque. The Prophet told them to stay in their homes, because their footsteps were being recorded, so they did not move. Al-Fahl grades the chain of the second report weak because one of its transmitters is weak.

Source text (1 entry)

His saying (mighty and majestic is He): "Indeed, it is We who give life to the dead and record what they have sent forth and their traces ... [to the end of the verse]" [36:12].Abu Said al-Khudri said (4): Banu Salimah (5) lived in an outlying part of Madinah, and they wanted to move closer to the mosque. Then this verse was revealed: ["Indeed, it is We who give life to the dead and record what they have sent forth and their traces"] (6) [36:12]. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them: "Your footsteps are recorded." So they did not move. (7) (365) The Sharif Ismail ibn al-Hasan [ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan] (1) al-Tabari informed us, saying: my grandfather informed us, saying: Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sharqi informed us, saying: Abd al-Rahman ibn Bishr related to us, saying: Abd al-Razzaq related to us (2), saying: al-Thawri informed us, from Said ibn Tarif (3), from Abu Nadrah, from Abu Said, who said: Banu Salimah complained to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) of the distance of their homes from the mosque. So Allah, exalted is He, revealed: "and record what they have sent forth and their traces" [36:12]. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Keep to your homes, for your footsteps are recorded." (4)

(4) See: al-Durr al-Manthur 7/46.

(4) Weak: because of the weakness of Tarif ibn Shihab al-Sadi. Recorded by al-Tirmidhi (3226), al-Tabari in al-Tafsir 22/154, al-Hakim 2/428, and the author in al-Wasit 3/510. Al-Suyuti in al-Durr al-Manthur 7/46 also attributed it to al-Bazzar, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Mardawayh and al-Bayhaqi in Shuab al-Iman, and al-Suyuti said: "Al-Bazzar graded it hasan ... and Ibn Mardawayh graded it sahih."

36:13-25

Messengers to a Town and a Believer’s Call

A town rejects God’s messengers; a devoted man urges his people to follow the messengers and worship the One God.

36:26-29

A Martyr’s Reward and Their Sudden End

The believer is admitted to Paradise; his people are destroyed by a single overwhelming blast.